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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 1:46:23 GMT
I asked this question on the dinner thread but thought I would open it up to the whole board.
I have no trouble falling asleep. No trouble at all...I go to bed around 10 and within 5 minutes I am sound asleep.
But staying asleep is a real struggle. I am a light sleeper and wake up on average about 3-5 times a night. The cat walks in the room, I wake up. I have to pee, I wake up. The wind blows, I wake up. My sheet wrinkles weirdly, I wake up. It can be anything and nothing and I wake up. My room is cool, my room is darkened. I have a fan and a white noise machine.
I stop any and all caffeine by 5-this includes all the sneaky caffeine vehicles like chocolate. I stop the sugar around the same time. I stop drinking everything by 7 to cut back on the peeing in the night. I do not eat big heavy dinners.
I need to sleep through the night. I am tired. I go to bed tired, I wake up tired. I just want to sleep for a whole night.
Any suggestions? Please??
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Post by Linda on Feb 17, 2017 1:48:20 GMT
I'm sorry - I have no ideas because I'm struggling with both falling asleep AND staying asleep...8.5 hrs in bed = 5-ish hours of sleep, sigh. I cut out caffeine altogether, sob, and it hasn't helped.
((((Hugs))) and here's to solutions downthread
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Belle on Feb 17, 2017 1:54:25 GMT
I recently read tip if you eat a protein snack right before bed, that could help you stay asleep. I do notice if I eat a low protein dinner (pasta, pizza etc) those are the nights I don't sleep well. You might try having a protein snack right before bed and seeing if that helps.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 17, 2017 1:55:19 GMT
I have the same problem, only I go to bed a little later than you. I have a hard time turning off my brain at night too, coupled with being a very light sleeper. When I get really, really desperate for a decent night's rest I take one Benadryl before bed. It turns my brain off enough so that I can fall asleep and knocks me out just enough so that if I do have to wake up to pee I can fall back asleep pretty quickly. Taking two of them makes me way too groggy the next day. I don't like taking anything, but sometimes you get so freaking tired you've just got to do something.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Feb 17, 2017 1:56:28 GMT
It's the pee that gets me every time.  |
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Post by leannec on Feb 17, 2017 1:57:31 GMT
Like I said on the other thread, I suffer from the exact same thing ... it royally sucks  Meds help me a bit but I'm still awake at the smallest thing ... especially my cat who insists on playing in my closet at 4am  I really just chalk it up to being a certain age ... it sucks getting old  |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Feb 17, 2017 1:59:27 GMT
How old are you? Apparently this is a menopausal symptom. Who knew? Same thing with me. I get up to pee 2-3xs a night. So my sleep is interrupted that many times, and I actually get up. It sucks. I catch up on the wkend, but it's a continuous cycle. I have tried sleep med aids. THey just make me sleep deeper, but I still wake up, and I am in a fog all the next day.
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Post by jenjie on Feb 17, 2017 2:01:12 GMT
How old are you? Apparently this is a menopausal symptom. Who knew? Same thing with me. I get up to pee 2-3xs a night. So my sleep is interrupted that many times, and I actually get up. It sucks. I catch up on the wkend, but it's a continuous cycle. I have tried sleep med aids. THey just make me sleep deeper, but I still wake up, and I am in a fog all the next day. Is it really? I have been waking up at 4am the past few weeks and cannot fall back to sleep, even though I'm tired. I end up needing a nap during the day. |
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,732
Location: So. Calif.
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Post by garcia5050 on Feb 17, 2017 2:03:12 GMT
I started having trouble getting to sleep right around 43. Staying asleep is no problem. Doctor said it was fairly normal and possibly hormone driven. I find that if I start exercising a bit more, and cut out all the caffeine by 2, I am ok.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,272
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Feb 17, 2017 2:03:49 GMT
I recently read tip if you eat a protein snack right before bed, that could help you stay asleep. I do notice if I eat a low protein dinner (pasta, pizza etc) those are the nights I don't sleep well. You might try having a protein snack right before bed and seeing if that helps. This is what my doctor recommended to me as well. |
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
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Post by scrapaddie on Feb 17, 2017 2:04:13 GMT
It's the pee that gets me every time. Me, too. The bladder rules! |
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 2:06:05 GMT
How old are you? Apparently this is a menopausal symptom. Who knew? Same thing with me. I get up to pee 2-3xs a night. So my sleep is interrupted that many times, and I actually get up. It sucks. I catch up on the wkend, but it's a continuous cycle. I have tried sleep med aids. THey just make me sleep deeper, but I still wake up, and I am in a fog all the next day. I'm 50...but so far, I haven't really even had any perimenopause symptoms. I keep thinking that any day now...  You know, I am really glad I asked this question-I have been asking my real life people and apparently not one of them has a single sleep problem. It's nice to know I am not alone. Like I said on the other thread, I suffer from the exact same thing ... it royally sucks Meds help me a bit but I'm still awake at the smallest thing ... especially my cat who insists on playing in my closet at 4am I really just chalk it up to being a certain age ... it sucks getting old I have been a light sleeper since forever, but it has gotten worse as I have gotten older. Couple that with also being an early riser who now rises even earlier...oy. Sleep is becoming an issue. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Feb 17, 2017 2:06:24 GMT
Yes!!! "From peri-menopause to post-menopause, women report the most sleeping problems. Most notably, these include hot flashes, mood disorders, insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing. ... They usually begin around the face and spread to the chest affecting 75-85% of women around menopause." sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/menopause-and-insomniaPlus a bunch of other links. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Feb 17, 2017 2:07:50 GMT
I don't have any menopausal symptoms either...really. Except for this dang sleeping one, and I'm around your age.
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Post by beachbum on Feb 17, 2017 2:08:03 GMT
Have you tried Valerian root? When I have bouts of waking up at night I take that, it helps me stay asleep. I will warn you - even in capsule form it does not smell pretty, hold your nose and swallow quickly.
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 2:10:41 GMT
I don't have any menopausal symptoms either...really. Except for this dang sleeping one, and I'm around your age. Huh. I swear, this getting older thing is really not all that fun. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 2:12:31 GMT
Yes!!! "From peri-menopause to post-menopause, women report the most sleeping problems. Most notably, these include hot flashes, mood disorders, insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing. ... They usually begin around the face and spread to the chest affecting 75-85% of women around menopause." sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/menopause-and-insomniaPlus a bunch of other links. Thank you for the links! |
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Post by jenjie on Feb 17, 2017 2:13:27 GMT
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 2:13:45 GMT
Have you tried Valerian root? When I have bouts of waking up at night I take that, it helps me stay asleep. I will warn you - even in capsule form it does not smell pretty, hold your nose and swallow quickly. I haven't...but I have taken valium and I still wake up. That's why I didn't even try the valerian root. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Feb 17, 2017 2:13:50 GMT
Oh, no. Getting old totally sucks. I WISH I was more menopausal, I want this dumb period thing to be over with already!!
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 2:15:36 GMT
Oh, no. Getting old totally sucks. I WISH I was more menopausal, I want this dumb period thing to be over with already!! No kidding. And for some reason I am getting the worst cramps of my life these days along with the heavier periods. It is just wrong. |
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Post by leannec on Feb 17, 2017 2:23:32 GMT
I don't have any menopausal symptoms either...really. Except for this dang sleeping one, and I'm around your age. Huh. I swear, this getting older thing is really not all that fun. I'm turning 50 myself this year but I have had a hysterectomy ... I do get night sweats from the waist down ... sorry about the TMI I am kinda glad to know that I'm not alone in this sleep thing ... you ladies have made me feel like less of a freak  |
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Post by leannec on Feb 17, 2017 2:25:49 GMT
Oh, no. Getting old totally sucks. I WISH I was more menopausal, I want this dumb period thing to be over with already!! No kidding. And for some reason I am getting the worst cramps of my life these days along with the heavier periods. It is just wrong. When my periods and cramps became like a crime scene I got myself to the gyno and had the hysto ... best thing ever  |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Member is Online
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Post by seaexplore on Feb 17, 2017 2:31:23 GMT
Benadryl?
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Post by elaine on Feb 17, 2017 2:37:54 GMT
I can't have any caffeine past noon or I'm awake in the night. All sodas in our house are caffeine-free. Only decaf coffee after my one cup with caffeine at 6 am on weekdays, or 8 am on weekends.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Feb 17, 2017 2:45:11 GMT
I don't fall asleep, I stay asleep until 7:30 and then am up for the day. I find I can't fall asleep until 1 or 2 or sometimes later. I am in a fog most of the day but it wears off by noon or so. I don't get sweats anymore because I take medication for that and it works 99% of the time and it works well. That is a huge relief.
Now that I am done having children do I still need a uterus? I am seeing a specialist on the 28th and i am going to negotiate with him about the peeing issue and maybe a hysterectomy. (Negotiate: beg, plead, talk about, beg some more, anything. Maybe he will be receptive. It's a guy so I am not hopeful.)
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artsydaisy
Full Member
Posts: 464
Jul 1, 2014 4:55:48 GMT
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Post by artsydaisy on Feb 17, 2017 2:51:27 GMT
I read that lavender is supposed to help with sleep/relaxing so I put some dried lavender in my pillow case and I feel like I sleep better. That could just be the power of suggestion, so you might want to spend some time convincing yourself that something will work before you use it, haha!
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Feb 17, 2017 2:55:20 GMT
I asked this question on the dinner thread but thought I would open it up to the whole board. I have no trouble falling asleep. No trouble at all...I go to bed around 10 and within 5 minutes I am sound asleep. But staying asleep is a real struggle. I am a light sleeper and wake up on average about 3-5 times a night. The cat walks in the room, I wake up. I have to pee, I wake up. The wind blows, I wake up. My sheet wrinkles weirdly, I wake up. It can be anything and nothing and I wake up. My room is cool, my room is darkened. I have a fan and a white noise machine. I stop any and all caffeine by 5-this includes all the sneaky caffeine vehicles like chocolate. I stop the sugar around the same time. I stop drinking everything by 7 to cut back on the peeing in the night. I do not eat big heavy dinners. I need to sleep through the night. I am tired. I go to bed tired, I wake up tired. I just want to sleep for a whole night. Any suggestions? Please?? 1. Yeah for white noise! Is it loud enough? Can you switch up the white noise? Is it white noise or sounds? 2. Do you have good overall sleep hygiene? Figure out when you need to eat and sleep to limit those disruptions. What does your brain do once you are awake? Are you allowed to go to sleep again? 3. Recent research about caffeine really points to no caffeine after noon. It used to be 2pm. So even at 5 - might be impacting you. 4. Have you had a sleep study? You are making the assumption it is the wind or going to the bathroom that is waking you up, but it could be sleep apnea. If you aren't getting a full night sleep, consider asking your primary care for a referral. 5. Why is the cat allowed in your room? I know, so mean of me, but if the cat is part of the problem, resolve the problem. And yes, cat's are assholes, but you can be one too - you are awake anyway, right?? 6. What about anxiety? Are you having dreams before waking up? 7. Hormones... yeah menopause. Part of my job is to do sleep assessments and help people adjust their sleep. You can find some good apps to track your sleep (to then take to your doc). Usually we ask for 2 weeks of data. You track medicine, food, waking up, etc. It's helpful to figure out your sleep cycle. There are quite a few apps out there that can help you with this (as well as provide basic sleep hygiene.) |
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Post by mcscrapper on Feb 17, 2017 3:27:58 GMT
I have had insomnia most of my adult life. I blame my current issues on working night shift for several years.
I currently medicate about 4 out of 7 nights each week. I cut all caffeine by noon but that really didn't make much difference.
What works for me is:
Getting exercise
eating better - no fried or heavy foods and if I do, I make sure to medicate that night
no alcohol - this is tough for me! I love a glass or two of wine or a beer or two after work every now and then.
melatonin - comes in 3mg capsules and I take 3-4 before bed. My only complaint about melatonin is I have vivid, and often freaky dreams. I work with a lot of docs and they say the reason we have these vivid dreams on melatonin is because our brains are supposed to have dreams and we only have these vivid dreams during our deepest sleep cycles.
benadryl
Belsomra - this is a fairly new drug that I started taking. I love it because I can take it at 1am and it acts quickly but has a very short half-life so getting 4-5 hours of sleep is fine and doesn't make me feel hungover. It works by blocking the wakefulness neurotransmitters. Basically, you can't process thoughts so your brain gives up trying and you fall asleep. Great little drug!
Klonopin - my go-to med for sleeping. I've been taking this for a few years now and it does help me stay asleep. I rarely wake up except to pee when I'm taking this.
No computer or electronic use for 30 minutes before bed.
Routine! Just like a baby or toddler, I need a routine. Fix the coffee for the next day, set out my scrubs and undies, let the dog back in, brush teeth, etc. A steady routine also gives my mind some time to unwind so when I do go to bed, I am IN the bed.
I can usually predict when I'm not going to sleep well and it is either based on how my day went or if I'm anxious about something the next day or week. If I've worked my tail off and been on my feet all 12 hours, I'll usually sleep well. If we've had a bad trauma or difficult patient, I don't sleep well. I've tried yoga, white noise, meditation, etc and nothing like that helps much. I am an admitted worrier so this doesn't help with my sleep habits.
I have read so many articles on insomnia and sleep medication addiction. Overwhelmingly, doctors have long believed that all of the drugs are addictive but, in reality, people are simply addicted to SLEEP! I truly believe that too. I've taken the same amount of klonopin for over 4 years and have never once felt addicted to the drug or feel like I have to take it every single day. I am addicted to sleeping and feeling good in the morning!
I still struggle on nights I do wake up and it is too late to medicate. 0130 is my cut off time. If I'm awake at that time, I have to get out of bed and walk around the house, drink some water, pee, then do some stretches on the floor. It doesn't always work but it at least shifts my thoughts to my breathing which at least helps for a bit.
Insomnia sucks. It really, REALLY does. I do hope you can make a few small changes and see if that helps any.
m
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 17, 2017 3:31:41 GMT
I am almost giddy on the nights I get a headache before I go to bed. I take an Advil PM. Once in a while, I'll take ZZZQuill if I haven't slept well for a week. I also take melatonin, but that doesn't keep me asleep.
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